Adventure? I'm in...

**Mikkel** · 9th July 2009, 00:33

Originally Posted by P38

I'd like to rent a GAU-8 with a couple of tonnes of ammo and some serious earmuffs.

Sorry, since the dimwits who designed the A-10 didn't include V/STOL in the design brief the GAU-8 will no be available for deployment on cruiseships...

Originally Posted by SARGE

i've never fired the GAU but ive seen one go off hooked up to the WartHawgs and one out of the side of a gunship

Wasn't even aware they ever fitted them to anything else than the A-10s... That'll be a serious helicopter!!!

Originally Posted by SARGE

4200 rounds per min.. no way in hell will anyone ever hold onto it

It's not so much the rate of fire as it is the caliber - 30 mm (360-425 gram projectiles) is a hefty slug by all definitions. As a comparison the "puny" M61 Vulcan (F16, F14, F15, etc.) has a rate of fire of 6,000 rounds per minute - but it's only a 20 mm (~100 gram projectile) or the XM134 (AKA Minigun) which uses 7.62x51 mm NATO ammunition - which is the weapon mounted on the helicopters during the Vietnam war, and which is the closest thing to a hand-held minigun ever developed (apparently the governor of California has one...).

**P38** · 9th July 2009, 18:39

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Sorry, since the dimwits who designed the A-10 didn't include V/STOL in the design brief the GAU-8 will no be available for deployment on cruiseships...

Wasn't even aware they ever fitted them to anything else than the A-10s... That'll be a serious helicopter!!!

It's not so much the rate of fire as it is the caliber - 30 mm (360-425 gram projectiles) is a hefty slug by all definitions. As a comparison the "puny" M61 Vulcan (F16, F14, F15, etc.) has a rate of fire of 6,000 rounds per minute - but it's only a 20 mm (~100 gram projectile) or the XM134 (AKA Minigun) which uses 7.62x51 mm NATO ammunition - which is the weapon mounted on the helicopters during the Vietnam war, and which is the closest thing to a hand-held minigun ever developed (apparently the governor of California has one...).

Yeah the 30mm slug sure is a hefty piece of metal.

But thats not all.... The Gau-8 also fires depleted urainium armour piercing rounds delivered at lightning speeds from a couple of kms away.

Nowhere to run, Nowhere to hide!

**shafty** · 9th July 2009, 19:21

FAR OUT!! Some SEXY weaponry, easily enough to sort out the Noise Control Guy. There's something about a 3 second warning burst of 300 rounds!!

Now where on the ST1300 could it go.............

**elevenhundred** · 9th July 2009, 21:18

Sore shoulders for everyone

**imdying** · 10th July 2009, 10:35

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Wasn't even aware they ever fitted them to anything else than the A-10s... That'll be a serious helicopter!!!

They haven't ever been fitted to anything other than A10s.

Presumably he meant something like an AC130 when he said gunship, rather than a helicopter. Which would make sense as he's actually thinking of the GAU12, which is also a serious piece of kit, although not in the league of the GAU8.

**MisterD** · 11th July 2009, 17:37

I don't think I've ever said it before but bags be goalkeeper

**Mikkel** · 11th July 2009, 19:14

Never heard of the Goalkeeper before - but the Phalanx system on the other hand...

I love the tracer shots at night at the end of this video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgpQBZF2sZQ[/youtube]

And a compilation of Warthog footage:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bMfrixJyWc&feature=related[/youtube]

**MisterD** · 11th July 2009, 20:52

Goalkeeper is the GAU-8 gun (he says, contradicting imdying...), Phalanx is a mere 20mm summat or other gatling variant...

**Mikkel** · 11th July 2009, 22:40

Originally Posted by MisterD

Goalkeeper is the GAU-8 gun (he says, contradicting imdying...), Phalanx is a mere 20mm summat or other gatling variant...

Ah, so for hunting deer - not just ducks and other waterfowl... the american way of course

**TOTO** · 12th July 2009, 00:37

Would gladly sell some toys to get to this kind of adventure

**Mikkel** · 12th July 2009, 21:47

Actually, I've found the perfect application for the goalkeeper system. Set one up at every intersection in NZ and connect it to a red-light-runner-camera. Problem solved!

**jimichelle** · 31st December 2009, 03:55

Somali Cruise Package

I was checking cruise lines because I heard the rates are very cheap right now.

I found a Somali cruise package that departs from Sawakin (in the Sudan) and docks at Bagamoya (in Tanzania).

The cost is a bit high @ 800 per person double occupancy but I didn't find that offensive. What I found encouraging and enlightened is that the cruise is encouraging people to bring their 'High powered weapons' along on the cruise. If you don't have your own weapons you can rent them right there on the boat. They claim to have a master gunsmith on board and will have reloading parties every afternoon as well as optional marksmanship training. The cruise lasts from 4-8 days and nights and costs a maximum of $3200 per person double occupancy (4 days). All the boat does is sail up and down the coast of Somalia waiting to get hijacked by pirates. Here are some of the costs and claims associated with the package.

* $800.00 US/per day double occupancy (4 day max billing)

* M-16 full auto rental $ 25.00/day ammo at 100 rounds of 5..56 armor piercing ammo at 15.95 (Best weapon for your kids, say, under 5. Make sure they know how to clear it.)

* Ak-47 riffle @ No charge. ammo at 100 rounds of 7.62 com block ball ammo at 14.95
* Barrett M-107 .50 cal sniper riffle rental 55.00/day ammo at 25 rounds 50 cal armour piercing at 9.95

* Crew members can double as spotters for 30.00 per hour (spotting scope included).

* Wow - they even offer RPG's at 75 bucks and 200 dollars for 3 standard loads
* "Everyone gets use of free complimentary night vision equipment and coffee and snacks on the top deck from 7pm-6am."

* Meals are not included but costs seem reasonable.

* Most cruises offer a mini-bar... these gung ho entrepreneurs offer.......... get this.....

* "MOUNTED MINIGUN AVAILABLE @ 450.00 per 30 seconds of sustained fire"

They advertise group rates and corporate discounts......and even claim "FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY"

They even have a partial money back offer if not satisfied....here's some text from the ad.

"We guarantee that you will experience at least two hijacking attempts by pirates or we will refund half your money back including gun rental charges and any unused ammo (mini-gun charges not included). How can we guarantee you will experience a hijacking? We operate at 5 knots within 12 miles of the coast of Somalia. If an attempted Hijacking does not occur we will turn the boat around and cruise by at 4 knots. We will repeat this for up to 8 days making three passes a day along the entire length of Somalia. At night the boat is fully lit and bottle rockets are shot off at intervals and loud disco music beamed shore side to attract attention. Cabin space is limited so respond quickly. Reserve your package before the end of May and get 100 rounds of free tracer ammo in the calibre of your choice."

As if all that isn't enough to whet your appetite, there were a few testimonials

* "I got three confirmed kills on my last trip. I'll never hunt big game in Africa again. I felt like the Komandant in Schindlers list!"---- Lars, Hamburg, Germany

* "Six attacks in 4 days were more than I expected. I bagged three pirates and my 12yr old son sank two rowboats with the mini-gun. PIRATES 0 - PASSENGERS-32! Well worth the trip. Just make sure your spotter speaks English" - Ned, Salt Lake city, Utah USA

* "I haven't had this much fun since flying choppers in NAM. Don't worry about getting shot by pirates as they never even got close to the ship with those weapons they use and their squirrelly aim-reminds me of the 15 year old Gomers we ran into in Cambodia who fired with their eyes closed"-" Glen the Rotorhead" Harvard, MA USA.

* "Like ducks in a barrel. This is a must do! - Zeke, Minnahaw Springs, Kentucky, USA